Apparatus for heating vapor, and process of burning stumps thereby



May 12, 1936. J. JONES -2,040,485

APPARATUS FOR HEATING VAPOR, AND PROCESS OF BURNINGl STUMPS THEREBY' Filed Jari, 25, 1955 JAco JONES l l mg Patented May 12, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR HEATING VAPOR, AND

PROCESS OF BURNING STUMI'S THERE- cent to Jack H. Utt

Application January 23, 1935, Serial No. 2,998

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus, and method for superheating steam into a dry blast, and burning stumps thereby.

Plans have been described for burning and destroying stumps and roots, by the application of wood fuel, and oil fuel, thereto, and the digging of pits and depositing such fuel and burning the same in contact with stump roots under covers, and even adding steam to the flames. Such plans have not been successful for many reasons, including the great amount of labor and material necessary for such burning, which requires many days for accomplishment of only a little burning. Lack of circulation of air to the fire retards the burning, and continued contact of oil flames tends to deposit a coating of carbon for delaying the fire. Under a cover there is constantly formed a thick scale of deadening charcoal on the surface to be burned. Any mere addition of moist steam into the flaming fuel is a dampener and will not cause any greater penetration of the heat into the wood to be burned, and all apparatus so far designed has been impracticable for burning stumps in their natural locations.

After repeated experiments with the burning of huge stumps and roots thereof, in clearing western land, I have discovered and invented both a practicable and successful apparatus and method for burning and destroying stumps and roots thereof, at loW cost and very rapidly, and solely by projection against an ignited surface of such wood to be burned, of hot dry superheated steam. Said steam so heated by a simple and inexpensive apparatus, and said apparatus, in turn, heated by the stumps and roots being burned.

I have found that by heating Water into steam and superheating the same to a high degree, in a tube, under approximately 40 pounds pressure to the square inch, and passing such superheated steam slowly through the tube and releasing the same through a small nozzle, that such superheated steam will then be projected from such outlet at a high Velocity in line of the nozzle outlet, for a considerable distance.

Such projected heated steam will carry and draw along a proper supply of air for oxygen necessary for rapid consumption of the wood, and the drying out sap when containing any pitch or resinous qualities, will not impede such burning and eating away of the dried out wood surface. When the stream of superheated steam, and atmospheric air entrained therewith, is directed against an ignited surface of a stump, it provides a fanning blast, which soon raises such ignited surface to a white heat. This produces an incandescent charcoal surface which continues to extend backward and in advance of the blast with comparatively rapid rate of combustion, and practically smokeless.

It is therefore an object of this invention to first provide a suitable light portable apparatus for generating and superheating steam, for the process of burning and destroying stumps and roots by the projection of such hot blast against the surface to be burned.

Another object is to provide such an apparatus, suitable to withstand the high degree of heat to which it must be subjected in successfully conducting such process. Such apparatus to be preferably constructed of wrought iron tubing, and bent into coils or convolutions upon itself, for providing a large heating surface in a relatively smalll space for easy heating, and for close application thereof to the surface to be burned.

A further object is to provide means for slowly feeding a small supply of water into one end of the tube, with a small nozzle in the other end thereof, for the projection of superheated steam therefrom.

A still further object is to provide a method for destroying stumps and roots, solely by forming and projecting superheated steam against the ignited surface thereof, and heating the steam by the burning stump.

With these, and other objects as may hereinafter appear, I have illustrated a suitable apparatus by the accompanying drawing, of which:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the apparatus, with parts broken away, y

Figure 2 represents an elevation of the front end thereof. v

Like numerals on the different figures represent like parts.

Numerals l, I, represent a pair of spaced skidsV or runners upon which heating coils'are supported, moved and transported. The skids are attached together by side bars 2, 2, which extend upward along the heating tube coils 3-to-6, and connected by rivets 2', for retaining said coils in suitable adjustment, under all conditions.

The heating tube is preferably formed of Wrought iron, and welded from several sections into one continuous tube, bent upon itself for facility in heating and operation. For lessening the height that would otherwise be required, the section 5 may be carried down beneath the others and again up to 1, and uniformly terminates in a small jet or nozzle 8.

For convenience in illustrating the operations, I have indicated a stump A, with a cavity being' burned as B.V The forward end of the coils is maintained in close proximity to the object to be burned. Thus heat from the burning object al- `ways aids in the heating of the tubes, and is generally sufficient therefor, While the burning of the object -is facilitated by the blast created by the heated tubes.V The nozzle 8 is preferably located at a distance of approximately oneto two feet from the surface to be burned, to per-V mit the spread of superheated steam from the nozzle to cover a proper area for burning.

Within the tube 3 may be mounted a smaller tube 9, provided with a seriesxof outlet perforations I0. A bolster II, supports the rear end of the smaller tube, and the front end may be supported by a similar bolster ormerely by folds of wire I2. This wire is preferably packed loosely in the tube and continuedgthroughout the coils of the tubing, for the purpose of transmitting heat from the walls of the tubes to the interiors, and ferl breaking up particles ofv steam ormoisture, and alsoforfimpeding the free flow of the steam to insure that Va high degree ofl heat be imparted thereto. The loosely packed wires are preferably positioned in the tubing before the bending thereof, for ease in inserting the same, andA ,inv bending of the tubes.- The wires being sorpacrked loosely, leave suflicientfpassageways for the steam while serving the other purposes mentioned.

I3 indicates a welded connection between tubes 3,and 4, while I5 indicates a threaded connection at-the opposite end of il,` Witha hollow handle I4. handle isl formed with suificient length to permit the operators to easily manipulate the heater and without personal injury from the heat. Within said handle may be positioned a Water supply pipe I6,VV for conducting a small supply ofwater to the perforated tube 9, into whichv the front end of the pipe is placed. Any suitable packing may be Wrapped around the pipe at Il, to prevent steam Yand heat from backinsintothe lhandle '4.-5 Amall nipple I8 is aixed in the rear end of the pipe, and with Valve I9,"` and supply hose vv and pipe 2I, provides a supply of water from a suitable pressure source. Such source may be a light portable pressure tank23j, with the pipe 2| mountedV therein, and a ller cap 22 for placing asupply of water therein, VAny suitableY pressure is exerted through tube-ligandl connecting nipple 24', and is suppliedby any simple, hand pump as 25 A gage 26 indioatesthe Aarmcmnt of pressure which is preferably near pounds per square inch, for forcing the Water into the heating tubes, and against any back pressure from the steam formed. Any

Y simple' ssvafetyY valve, not shown, may beV attached and, the Vheating tubesand skids, a connecting brace 2,'I` maybe attached at one'end, to one of the holding rivets 2 and the other end by a clamp 21'7, Y Y Y In operation,l the bark is preferably removed Y from' the Vportion of the stump or root to be burned, and-the front portion of the coils then placed adjacent to the object to be burned,.with the nozzle 8-spaced back-in line with the barked portion. yAny desired flame is thenv applied to the outside of the coils and to the adjacent stump and aVV small amount of Water supplied into the 1mb@ Such. Water 11S ,spedilyorwerted ,inw

steam, which then passing along through the heated tubes and interior wires is thereby superheated to a high degree and escapes from such l0-pound pressure out through such small nozzle and proceeds Vwith great velocity therefrom against such barked surface of the stump or root. In a brief period of time such superheated steam absorbs the moisture from, and dries such wood surface and forces such flame against and into the surface of the stump to burn the same. As

the outside ofV such wood is burned away, ther front endV of the tubes may be lowered by elevating the handle I,4,"whereby the line of projected superheated'steam will burn downward and provide a cavity into which the front portion of the coils may be later pressed, and there heated by the adjoining burning area. The handle is then lowered, and the lines of dry steam directed against a new exposure beyond the first portion` burned away. By repeating the operations, a sectionv of the stump ora root in front of the apparatus is speedily burned away, Roots are similarly destroyed bylfirst removing thegearth and bark from top sides thereof, and` then depressing the front of the tubesLtill the nozzle isV in line with the portion to be burned and the dry steamthenprqjected against the ignitedsurf ace to be burned. The roots may also befollowed when the stump is burned.

In orderv toproperly first heat the tube coils,V

only'a small amountrof wood or other suitable fuel is required. Ordinarily thereis a sufficient amount of wood in the immediate Vicinity of the stumps, tovprovide all the heat required. Such wood fuel isf not necessarily shown, but isV pref--` erably burned beside the coils, and the yflames from the burning thereof, envelop the coils, and

heat the Vsame to the desired degree and ignite the surface tofbe burned. The same supplynof wood, if piled alongside the stump and burned, would at most but char the outside of the stump,

as the heat and flames from the fuel would `,not penetrate the stump, but rise up. and escape automatically 'r'riaintained substantially the same as in the water tankfThe necessary supply of water to the lower tube is-held back if i the pressure in the coils exceedsthat in the tank, andas soonY as the pressure of steam in the tubes falls below that in the tank, then the water again flows into the lower coils, for producing moreste'am and vapor tillY the pressure isagain equalizred.. Y

where insufncient wood fuel is'- available for heating the coils, I have provided analternate means Vfor supplyingv such first heat and flame,

by spraying burning oil upon such tubes and coils. Such alternative means is show-n inlglig-V ure 1 of the drawing. Y

a 28Arepresentsa portablevoil tank ,'provided with a removable pipecap' 29. for llingl thetank with fuel oil.l The oil is dischargedfrprn thgwjtank through `ripe '.Stand heseffuandivalye 31'; A feedl pine, .32.18. attached, along. theY hanche, by. Clamps. 32.3-21.11 Vlflffwdedwith a ,regulator `and aoL cut-off valve 33 for convenient use by the operator.

A nipple 34 connects the outer end of the pipe 32, with a pair of nozzles 35 and 36, and these nozzles are supported on a short pipe 31, which is threaded into one of the heating coils. Said nozzles are positioned for discharging sprays of fuel oil over the coils. A valve 38 is provided in the pipe 31 for permitting a small supply of steam to flow from the coils and mingle with the oil for expanding, and forcing the same to flow from such nozzles in suitable sprays for burning over said coils, for heating the same and forming a supply of vapor thereby.

A pressure gage 39 is mounted in the top of the oil tank 28,` and a suitable air pressure supplied over the oil, through a nipple 4l, to which may be attached an air hose and pump similar to those shown as 24 and 25 for the water tank. Any suitable safety valve may be attached to the plug 40.

In order to provide priming steam for first mingling with the fuel oil behind the nozzles 35 and 36, the heating coils 3 to 1 are slightly heated. This may be easily accomplished by a small amount of the fuel oil or kerosene, placed beneath the coils in a pan or on any suitable agent, and ignited. Sufficient steam is quickly generated thereby, for forcing a supply of such steam behind, and out through such nozzles, with oil spray for heating the coils thereby.

Only a small supply of fuel oil is required for maintaining the coils or tubes at a sufficient temperature for forming the necessary superheated steam for burning stumps. The same amount of oil, if sprayed directly upon the stump and there burned, would produce no material destruction of the stump, as the flames therefrom would rise up along the sides of the stump, and leave a sooty carbon deposit upon the same.

Where sufficient wood fuel can be cheaply obtained for heating the coils, then the means for heating by oil is disconnected. 'I'his is easily done, by removing the oil feed hose 3|, from a nipple 4l and feed pipe 32, and closing the steam valve 38.

While I have illustrated an apparatus with elongated coils of tube constructed on supporting members, yet such forms are optional, and I have found that a 3A inch wrought iron pipe formed either into long or circular coils may be utilized Without support skids and may be easily carried by one man into areas inaccessible for vehicles.

In general the apparatus and method are used for severing large stumps vat the ground surface without consuming the upper portion of the stump, and also are used for following up and burning out the larger roots from below said surface.

Having described my invention, I claim as new:

1. Apparatus for burning stumps and the like, means for generating superheated steam, means for igniting a portion of the stump to be burned and for initially heating said steam generating means, means for directing a blast of superheated steam onto the ignited portion of the stump and to aspirate air therewith to cause combustion of the stump, the steam generating means being so constructed that it may be positioned adjacent the burning portion of the stump so that the heat of said burning portion will serve as a source of heat for said generating means.

2. Apparatus for burning stumps and roots in their natural locations, comprising a device for generating and superheating steam, said device including means for flashing water into steam and means forming a tortuous passage wherein steam is superheated, and means for projecting such superheated steam against an ignited area of an object to be burned whereby atmospheric air is entrained there-against for increasing and continuing the burning of such object, said generating and superheating device being portable for positioning thereof adjacent the burning area. of such object whereby the heat created by the burning object may be utilized as a source of heat for generating and superheating steam in said device.

3. Apparatus for burning stumps and roots thereof in their natural setting, comprising means for generating steam from water, means for supplying the necessary water for such steam, means for superheating such steam to provide a dry blast thereof and for projecting such dry blast against the object to be burned, such apparatus being portable for positioning adjacent the burning surface of such object to be burned so that the heat from such burning object is utilized for the continued heating of such apparatus and the superheating of steam generated therein.

4. A method of burning stumps and the like, comprising igniting a portion of the stump, initially generating superheated steam, directing a blast of the superheated steam together with aspirated air onto the ignited portion of the stump, and utilizing the heat of the burning stump for the continued generation of superheated steam to be directed there-against without the use of additional fuel.

5. A method of burning stumps, comprising the building of a flame adjacent the stump and igniting a portion of such stump and generating superheated steam to form a dry blast by such flame, projecting such dry blast of superheated steam against such ignited portion of such stump for enhancing the combustion thereof and thev continuation and increasing of the combustion of such stump by the forcing of the fire into the wood thereof by said blast, and the continued generation of such superheated steam blast by utilizing the heat created by said burning stump.

6. A method of burning stumps, comprising igniting a surface of a stump to be burned, producing a highly heated steam, directing a blast of such steam onto the ignited surface of a stump whereby air is entrained by said blast against the burning surface of the stump to support combustion thereof, and utilizing the heat of the burning stump as a source of heat for continuing the production of highly heated steam to be used in said blast.

JACOB JONES. 

